CUT OFF THE AIR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20262, 1 June 1940, Page 11

CUT OFF THE AIR

MR. COATES’ SPEECH UNSUITABLE PASSAGES JOINT CABINET PLEA TRAINING OF MAN-POWER (Speciill to the Herald.) WELLINGTON, this day. On two brief occasions, Mr. Speaker used his new authority to-day to shut off broadcasting of Parliament when the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates (Nat., Kaipara) was speaking in the second reading debate on the Emergency Regulations Amendment Bill. It was when he was dealing with the military forces and equipment, Mr. Coates suggesting at the time that his remarks might possibly be considered unsuitable to go over the air. In his opening comments, Mr. Coates said that the meetings held throughout the country were the outcome of feelings of anxiety that a crisis had been reached, calling for the best effort from every man and woman in the Dominion. The people were looking for a clear and definite lead which rode above all their little differences. Side-Stepped Situation He did not agree with the proposed War Council because it side-stepped the whole situation. How could men give their best unless they had the opportunity, he asked. The Opposition was willing to play its part whether within or without the Government. All the Opposition had done was to say they believed that all parties should be .represented in the Administration during the present critical period. Surely when men from both sides of the House were fighting side by side on the battlefield, it was the duty of members remaining behind to get together to make a united effort. Discussing man-power, Mr. Coates said that so -far the voluntary system had been adequate, but in one way they had been caught napping. Their front line was overseas but their ■reserves were in New Zealand, and these reserves, said to be trained territorials, were the overseas troops of the future. In his view the army should be supreme at this stage. Unless the army had complete elbow room to train men for home defence, more time would be lost. New Zealand must take the responsibility of its own .defence, and as the United Kingdom had so many problems we must decide for ourselves.

The Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser: I think the House is unanimous that whatever we do overseas, we have to do everything here.